"Why Must I Confess My Sins?" (Psalm 51)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Have mercy on me, O God” (Psalm 51:1a).

 

God created you and me from the stuff of this earth – from dust and dirt. The “remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” you heard earlier wasn’t just for effect. It is true. For you came from ash and dust and you will return to ash and dust. That black cross on your forehead is proclaiming, “God, have mercy on me!”

 

Tonight, we begin the penitential season of Lent, which is a time of self-examination as we prepare for the Resurrection of Our Lord. 

 

Now, have you ever thought: “If God is all-knowing, then He knows my sins already, so why do I need to confess my sins?”

 

Does God really need to hear me confess my sins? We begin each Divine Service with Confession and Absolution. Why do we do this? Is this just a ritual, or does it mean something?

 

It is true that God knows every single sin you and I have done in our lives. He knows everything you do in secret. Confession and Absolution isn’t about spilling the news to God, since clearly, He knows already. 

 

Confession and Absolution is for you, and it is for me, so that by confessing our sins, God can get rid of them. We begin with Confession and Absolution so God can take your sins upon Himself. This is what Psalm 51 is all about!

 

Now, next to the fall of Adam and Eve, the account of King David’s fall is perhaps the most-familiar account of a fall in the Old Testament. The fall of David has been glamorized by movie makers, and many people even see it as an exciting love story. But it isn’t. David’s fall is a frightening reminder of how vulnerable we all are. It has been said, “Every man is two drinks and a wink away from ruining his life.”

 

So, if you think that you are not vulnerable, then you are vulnerable. You see, the times when we are most vulnerable to trial and temptation are the times when everything seems to be going your way. When life is hard and we are struggling, God is never far from our thoughts. But when life is good, that is when we are most prone to fall.

 

For King David, life was good. Life was very good. Practically all his wars had been fought and won. Even the war with the Ammonites was virtually over. So, instead of going off to war with his troops, as was his custom, David decided to remain home in Jerusalem. 

 

While David’s men were at war, he was far removed from that scene. Instead of being active, David became bored. He was looking for something to excite him. In his boredom, David grew idle and complacent. He had too much free time on his hands. 

 

Then one late afternoon, the bored David arose from a nap on his couch and decided to go for a walk onto the rooftop terrace of the palace. As he looked down over his kingdom, he saw a beautiful woman bathing. He gazed at her. Satan began tugging at his heart as he used sexual lust.

 

David gave into his temptation and sent one of his servants to find out more about this woman. His servant returned to David and said, “Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” (2 Samuel 11:3b). In other words, the servant is saying, “David, wake up! She’s married! She belongs to another!”

 

So, what does David do? Does he heed the warning? Nope! He insisted she be brought to him. A few weeks later, Bathsheba sent word to David, “I am pregnant” (2 Samuel 11:5).

 

So, what does David do now? Does he confess his sin? No. He compounds his sin by trying to cover it up and hide it from everyone. So, David comes up with a plan. 

 

David called Uriah home from the front and pretended he was interested in learning how the fighting was going. What a hypocrite! His only concern was that people conclude the baby was Uriah’s. But Uriah was a man of honor. He would not go home, but slept on David’s doorstep. For Uriah, it wouldn’t be right if he were home with his wife while his fellow soldiers were still fighting.

 

That next night, David tries another tactic. He would get Uriah drunk. But even a drunk Uriah displayed more integrity than a sober David.

 

David, thinking only of himself, begins to panic and decides that if Uriah won’t be with Bathsheba, then he would have to find a way to get rid of Uriah. So, David sent Uriah back to the front lines with his own death orders in hand. Problem solved. Everything worked out for David. David’s sin is covered. Or so it seems.

 

To all outward appearances, it appears that out of the goodness in his heart, David took in the widow of Uriah to be his wife. Outwardly, this all appears to be honorable and decent. In the eyes of the people, David is a great king who has taken care of this poor soldier’s widow. Although David had deceived most of the nation, God knew everything.

 

Not once had David sought God’s counsel and forgiveness. His integrity with the nation of Israel may have been maintained, but his fellowship with God was broken.

 

David kept this cover-up going for more than a year. He refused to confess his wrong. But David went into depression and his prayer life became nonexistent. He was emotionally drained. He was in remorse for what he had done. But he was not yet repentant. He did not desire to change. He refused to act differently. However, he had remorse, and his remorse led him to bitterness and regret and loss of peace of heart and mind. But he would not confess his sin to God. This greatly displeased the Lord.

 

This is where Nathan steps in. Nathan was an old friend of David, a personal advisor and minister to David. And now, God is using Nathan to an unenviable task. 

 

So, God used Nathan to tell David a story, a touching story about two men. One rich, the other poor. The rich man had everything he could ever want, the poor man had nothing but one ewe lamb, which was like a daughter to him. One day, a traveler came to the rich man, but he was unwilling to take one of his own flock or herd to prepare for the guest, but instead takes the poor man’s lamb and slaughters it and then feeds it to the traveler.

 

Now, David doesn’t know that he is being set up. David, not realizing this is just a story, is filled with anger and says, “As the Lord lives, the man who has done this deserves to die” (2 Samuel 12:5). Then Nathan says to David, “You are the man!” (2 Samuel 12:7).

 

In other words, this story was never about a rich and poor man, this story was about David and Bathsheba and Uriah. How could David have missed the point? But now David sees his sin. He understands what he had done. He is now contrite. He is penitent as he confesses, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:13).

 

God was waiting for this. God waits for each of us to confess and acknowledge our sins in the same way. So, why should we confess our sins? Well, look at David. He was a wreck. His remorse was eating at him. 

 

You see, all sin is ultimately a sin against God. This is why David says in Psalm 51: “Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight” (Psalm 51:4). God is always involved when it comes to our sinfulness, because it all goes against Him. And God is the One who ultimately has to forgive the sin if it is going to be forgiven.

 

It is easy to separate the two tables of the Law. Yes, the first table of the Law focuses on God and the second table focuses on our neighbor. But if you would break the Fifth Commandment, you are really saying, “I am God. I can kill and make alive. I decide who lives and dies.” And if you would break the Sixth Commandment by not being faithful to your spouse, what you are saying is “I am God. I get to decide how I am going to treat other people.”

 

This is what David was doing. He was doing what he wants, when he wants, and who cares about the consequences. That is what sin does. Sin turns us in on ourselves and makes us into little false gods. This is what sin does to you.

 

In Psalm 51, David is admitting this. He is asking God to have mercy on him. He is asking God to blot out his transgressions. David knows that he has a major sickness known as sin and that only God can cleanse him and cure him. He can’t do any program, no ten step process, to get rid of his sin. He can’t try harder to get rid of his sin.

 

When you have been discovered in a sin, sometimes there is pride in that sin. Even the most pious Christian can in a twisted way become proud of their sin. So often, we don’t see actual sins as something to be confessed and forgiven. But all sins divide us from God. In God’s sight, there is no difference between a “small” and a “large” sin. 

 

David says, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation” (Psalm 51:12a). This joy of salvation is the joy of absolution, the joy of forgiveness. This is the joy of hearing and receiving and recognizing and rejoicing in what God gives us in His Son Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. 

 

So, why do we confess our sins to God? So that God would clean your conscience. 

Like David, we are all going to suffer in this life. We are all going to continue to have earthly consequences and trials because of sin, but through confession and absolution, we are found right with God. God alone declares us innocent. We have hope and joy because when we confess our sins to God our Father, He forgives our sins for Christ’s sake. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"The Greater Exodus" (Luke 9:28-36)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“And behold, two men were talking with [Jesus], Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Luke 9:30-31).

 

It was about eight days after these sayings. Now, what sayings is St. Luke referring to? The conversation Jesus had with His disciples at the villages of Caesarea Philippi. We remember that conversation, and we know that Peter remembers that conversation, because it was one of those moments that will stick with you.

 

Jesus asked His disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” (Mark 8:27)

 

They replied: “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets” (Matthew 16:14).

 

“But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15). 

 

Then Peter says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16).

 

But then what happened? Jesus took His disciples aside and began to teach them that the Christ must suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

 

Then Peter takes Jesus aside and rebukes Him saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:22). Then Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to Me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man” (Matthew 16:23).

 

Then about eight days after that conversation, Jesus invites Peter, James and John up a mountain to pray. Peter must still be thinking about what had happened just days ago. He confessed Jesus to be the Christ, but he was soon rebuked for his lack of faith. Could Jesus bring that up again? Could Jesus bring up that He must suffer and die? 

 

What does it mean that Jesus has to suffer? Why does the Christ have to die?

So, Peter, James and John follow Jesus up a mountaintop. Jesus picks the spot up on the mountain to pray, and He begins to pray. But for some reason, the disciples fall asleep. Could it be that Jesus prayed a long time? Maybe. Could it be because of the tiring trek up the mountain? Maybe. But we know that they fell asleep.

 

But as Jesus is praying, He is visited by Moses and Elijah, and they are talking with Jesus about His departure. The Greek word translated “departure” here literally means “exodus” – a way out. From the word “exodus” we get the word “exit.”

 

Now, Jesus doesn’t have to argue with Moses and Elijah about His suffering. They know all about suffering. This is what the conversation is all about! 

 

This word “exodus” ought to call to mind the exodus of the Israelites, the greatest redemptive event in Old Testament history. That saving deed of God was a forward-pointing prophecy of the perfect and complete salvation to be wrought in this “exodus” of Jesus.

 

This “exodus” was the topic of conversation between Moses and Elijah. That first exodus used water as a means of death – the Egyptians drowned. The new exodus also involves death – the death of Christ – but what’s different is that through Christ’s death, those who are baptized into Christ die to sin as they die with Christ. But in this new exodus, God will pour out His Means of Grace – His Word and Sacraments – to sustain His people in the arid desert of this fallen world.

 

Jesus would have to die so that we would live.

 

God the Father’s words at Christ’s Baptism are echoed at His Transfiguration: “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him” (Luke 9:35).

 

By means of this new exodus, God will vanquish the serpent, Satan, and redeem His people from the powers of sin, death, and hell.

 

So, just as Moses led the Israelites to the Promised Land, so now Jesus will lead His people to eternal glory. But before Jesus would lead His people to glory, He must first suffer.

 

There, upon that mountaintop, Moses and Elijah were conversing about what was soon to be accomplished: our substitutionary atonement. They were discussing the theology of the cross. 

Our God is a god of paradox. God reveals Himself by hiding Himself in Christ. God heals His people by suffering in Christ. God’s power is seen in weakness. God gives life by dying.

 

One would expect God to tell us to shape up, for us to merit His love. But He doesn’t. Instead, He puts all our sins upon Himself. He would be crucified in our place to take our punishment for our sins. He would be crucified in our place for breaking God’s Law. Our sinless Lord would take upon Himself all our sins to give us exodus from the consequences of our sins.

 

But then Peter, James and John wake up. We don’t know who woke up first. But you can imagine one of them waking up and rubbing his eyes as he sees Jesus dazzling white and hears the conversation and then nudging the others to wake up to see this! When they became fully awake, they saw Jesus’ radiant face like the sun and His clothes beaming white. The disciples listened to the conversation with amazement. 

 

And then as Moses and Elijah began to depart, Peter says to Jesus: “‘Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah’ – not knowing what he said” (Luke 9:33).

 

This is so typical of Peter. He speaks when he ought to listen. We are often like Peter. We, too, would like to prolong our “mountaintop” experiences as we leave behind the toil and trouble of this fallen world behind.

 

So often we are reluctant to see the big picture of Jesus. We look for all the glory. We look for signs, wonders, and miracles. But this glory of the Transfiguration serves as a prefiguring of Christ’s suffering and death. Jesus, Moses and Elijah understood that there was no contradiction between this moment of glory and the cross awaiting in Jerusalem.

 

For Moses and Elijah, the Transfiguration is seen most clearly through Christ’s suffering on Calvary. There, nailed to the cross, the glory of God and the love of God is revealed. 

 

It is only through the cross that we see God’s glory shining. Christ says, “It is necessary the He should suffer many things, be killed, and rise on the third day.”

 

He came to suffer and die, so that He can be your Savior. He died so that you may share in His glory.

 

The Transfiguration of Our Lord shows that Christ must die. The crucifixion would not be an unfortunate incident. The crucifixion was rather an essential part of God’s eternal plan for the salvation of the world. Moses and Elijah confirmed that. Through His death on the cross, the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled. By grace through faith in Christ alone, we are no longer under the curse of the Law. But now, having received forgiveness, life and salvation through Christ atoning death, we want to follow the Law and keep the Law. Now, we don’t have to, but we get to. Jesus has shown us grace by providing us the way out of this fallen world filled with sin and death.

 

Receiving the Means of Grace is now the activity of our exodus as God sustains us to life everlasting. In Holy Baptism, your Old Adam was drowned as you came to life in Christ. Through the water and the Word, you were joined to Christ who hung on the cross. You were baptized into His death. For His death is the only way out from the bondage to sin. In the Lord’s Supper, you are again partaking in Christ’s death as you partake of Christ’s true Body and Blood broken and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins, which begets life everlasting. 

 

Now, all of us who confess our sins and receive God’s forgiveness are able to depart in peace.

 

Jesus accomplished His work through His death, resurrection, and ascension. Through Christ and His Means of Grace, He has prepared the way for our exodus – the greater exodus – as we daily die to sin and are made alive in Christ through repentance and faith knowing that He has accomplished all that is necessary for our salvation. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Are We Not to Judge?" (Luke 6:27-38)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

Jesus said: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:36-37).

 

These words of Christ are often quoted. They are rarely ever misquoted. But what we may think of these words are often the opposite of what Jesus is saying here. I’m sure you have heard those words,“Judge not, and you will not be judged” even in Christian conversation. And often unbelieving pagans will use these words of Jesus to us Christians as a way to say, “You are in no position to judge!” So, what is Jesus meaning by those words: “Judge not, and you will not be judged”?

 

Well, first thing to note here is that these words of Christ have been misunderstood for centuries, but for different reasons.

 

In the Middle Ages, the people had a much different wrong understanding of these words of Christ than the popular wrong understanding of today. But both wrong understandings have a common misunderstanding. They are both taking Scripture out of context by cutting and pasting these words of Christ to fit what these false teachers want these words to mean.

 

First, let’s look at the old misunderstanding. In the Middle Ages, these words of Christ, “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” was taken by many in the church to mean that we must do something to earn salvation. In other words, Christ’s atoning death wasn’t enough for you and me to inherit salvation, so we have to do something. 

 

These words of Christ were stern law that the Christian had to do so God would love them and then in turn receive His forgiveness. These words were used to scare Christians into submission so that they would get right with God to receive His divine mercy. Luther fought against this wrong interpretation, since there is nothing we can do to ever merit God’s love. We could never get right with God. It is only God who is able to get right with us, through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

For most Christians today, we rarely think about that interpretation. But if you know any Roman Catholics, they still hold on to that way of thinking.

 

But most likely, you have heard those words of Christ “Judge not, and you will not be judged”meaning something entirely different. In this post-modern era, those words have become to mean that we are forbidden to recognize the sins of others and even our own sins. Those words have become to mean that we are to not judge at all, that we are not to discriminate between right and wrong.

 

So, is Jesus forbidding us from engaging in any kind of judgment? Well, if that is the case, then Jesus words here make no sense whatsoever. If we are not to judge, then what do we make of these Scriptural texts?

 

§  Jesus says in Matthew 18: “If your brother sins against you …” (Matthew 18:15a). How would we know what sin is without judgment?

§  Jesus says in John 7: “Do not judge by appearances…” (John 7:24a). Ok, this fits with the idea of never judging. But wait, Jesus isn’t finished, “But judge with right judgment” (John 7:24b). So, how would we know right judgment?

§  Jesus says in Luke 12: “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right?” (Luke 12:57). So, what is right?

§  Jesus says in Matthew 7: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:15-16a). How do we know false teachers from true teachers without judgment? How are we to recognize fruits of faith without first judging the fruit?

§  St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, writes in Romans 13: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities” (Romans 13:1). But don’t governing authorities judge?

§  And what are we to make of the Bereans in Acts 17? “They received the Word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11b). How are we to know the validity of what the pastor says without studying the Scriptures?

 

So, clearly, the idea of never judging is not the case, since we are to judge. You see, the Bible is full of judgments between good and bad. Just think of Cain, Babel, David’s sexual sin, John the Baptist’s preaching, and Jesus judging the seven churches of Revelation.

 

What are the Ten Commandments? They are but God’s Law of judgment, which shows us our sin and serves as our guide in the way we ought to live and want to live. 

 

Another way to think of judging is this: How can you be a judge of a court and not judge the law? How can you be a referee and not judge if play is fair? How can you be a teacher and not judge their student’s homework? How can you pick out which fruit to buy at the grocery store without placing judgment upon that fruit? How can a pastor not judge between false doctrine and true doctrine? How can you be a parent and not also discipline your child?

 

Clearly, we know the difference between right and wrong. We know that truth is different than fiction. So, what is Jesus saying here? Well, Jesus is not forbidding judgment, but when we judge we must think the way God thinks. Jesus is teaching us to become merciful just as God our Father is merciful.

 

You see, God is the ultimate judge, so we are not to judge according to our flawed way of thinking, according to our flawed understanding of things, but we are to think and judge like God. We are to think like God the Father. But how can we do that?

 

Well, when we make judgments, we must do so in the view of the mercy and grace of God. So, when we make any judgment, it should never be toward harsh condemnation or the rejection of the sinner – we never condemn anyone to hell, but we always lead the sinner toward forgiveness and reconciliation. God doesn’t show us our sin because He hates us. He shows us our sin, because He loves us. He shows us our sin, so that we would turn from it and receive His forgiveness.

 

So, we interpret “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you” in light of what is said before them, “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Luke 6:36).

 

So, we speak what’s right for the sake of your neighbor. True love is always to speak the truth. So, if your child did something wrong, it is your duty to judge his wrongdoing in order to save him.

 

God’s inerrant Word speaks of judgment all the time. But whenever God speaks, He speaks judgment in order to save. He speaks of judgment as a warning. He speaks of judgment out of His love.

 

For Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person” (Matthew 15:19-20a). Likewise, St. Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit writes, “Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21).

 

God is the judge. And He warns us against those evil things that come from the sinful flesh and the sinful heart.

 

Now, none of us here today are as pure as the wind driven snow. We are all filthy as we are stained with sin. And yet, God calls on all of us to judge ourselves and to judge one another. But, again, we don’t judge using our flawed reason and thinking. We judge only as God judges as He has revealed in His Word.

 

So, what does being merciful like God look like in practice? Well, it looks like this: When you judge, first recognize your sin, fully acknowledge your sin, since your first judgment must be upon yourself, but out of your love for the other, it is your responsibility to help the other by speaking of their sin so to lead them to repentance and forgiveness. Now, speaking of judgment is never easy, since no one ever takes delight in speaking words of judgment. So, we speak as sinners to fellow sinners with always in mind the gospel that “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him” (John 3:17).

 

At one time, we were all God’s enemies, and we all deserved what was coming to us – eternal death and hell, but He gave us Christ instead, who took upon Himself our judgment as He suffered and died our punishment as He hung on the cross. Because of that judgment, we are now forgiven and reconciled to God. By faith in His Son, God the Father has given us forgiveness out of His divine mercy! So, when we judge, we judge like God our Father, who is merciful, as we confess our sin, speak God’s Word of judgment, and proclaim the forgiveness won for everyone in Christ! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Who Do You Trust?" (Jeremiah 17:5-8)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man. … Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:5a, 7a).

 

The Lord through the Prophet Jeremiah shows us a real problem. And this problem lies in the heart of humanity. This real problem is trust. Who do you trust? And he contrasts trust in two ways: the way of unbelief and the way of faith.

 

So, who do you trust? Who are you really trusting in? Yourself? Your fellow man? Who is really shaping your thinking and your behavior?

 

When you face anxiety about your life, whether it is about finances, health and safety, where do you turn? Where do you go to get through the anxieties in your life?

 

All too often, we turn inward, to ourselves, with the unshakeable confidence that there is nothing I am unable to do, that there is no problem that I cannot solve. Whether it be a personal dilemma or a worldwide dilemma, you may think that you can solve whatever problem all by yourself, or with the help of fellow man.

 

But there are only two ways: either trusting in human abilities or trusting in the Lord. And the difference is stark. The difference results in either a blessing or a curse.

 

The Lord said through Jeremiah, “You are cursed if you do not trust in Me, if you only trust in human strength and wisdom. But you are blessed when you trust in Me and commit your life to Me.”

 

You see, the one who trusts in himself is “like a shrub in the desert” (Jeremiah 17:6a) with no water who dwells “in an uninhabited salt land” (Jeremiah 17:6d). 

 

Certainly, there will be no prospering in a parched land. The shrub will eventually wither and die.

 

In contrast, the one who trusts in the Lord, and commits his life to the Lord, is “like a tree planted by water” that prospers, that bears fruit, and grows because it has deep roots in the life-giving waters. One who trusts in the Lord doesn’t worry and is never afraid if there is a drought, since it can weather anything because it has a never-failing stream of life to support it through good times and bad.

 

Again, who do you trust? Do you trust in yourself? Many who trust in themselves may say, “I’m smart enough; I’m good enough. People love me. I’ve got enough money. I’ve got my network of friends. I will do just fine!” 

 

We so often trust in money, pleasure, power, and relationships. We seek control of our own choices. We seek control of our own lives. But what is forgotten here? What is left out?

 

If these are the things a person trusts in, God says, “Cursed are you, since they will all fail you. These things will not last forever.”

 

So, where is God in your life? Is He your last option among many other options? What does Jesus say about that? He says, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33a). God should never be your last resort, your last option. He should always be first!

 

So, the Lord says, “Cursed are you!” Not only will man fail you, but by trusting in man, you have turned from the Lord. Turning from the Lord means that you are despising and neglecting the Lord.

 

In Martin Luther’s explanation of the First Commandment “You shall have no other gods,” he says, “Whatever you set your heart on and put your trust in is truly your god.” Luther is saying that there is no middle ground between clinging to the Creator and clinging to the creature. So, directing our fear, love, and trust to something or someone other than the Creator defines our original sin.

 

We are all certainly tempted to trust in our wealth, our strength, or our skill to provide for our earthly needs instead of trusting our heavenly Father. So often we are inclined to pray, “My will be done,”instead of trusting that God’s will is aways best.

 

We fall into this trap of trusting man when we neglect prayer and neglect God’s Word and Sacrament. And we wonder why we end up exhausted, discouraged, bitter and cynical as our efforts fail. So, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” (Jeremiah 17:5a).

 

But the Lord through Jeremiah also tells of a contrast. He says, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord” (Jeremiah 17:7a), for only the Lord God is able to prosper and protect you. He is the only One who will give you full life now and forever. So, not only will all others disappoint you and fail you, but your turning to others is really a turning from the Lord.

 

Instead of being a shrub in the desert, those who trust in the Lord are “like a tree planted by water” (Jeremiah 17:8a). Trusting in the Lord is like being planted along an ever-flowing river of water, like a palm tree planted next to the Nile River. So, it doesn’t matter if it doesn’t rain. For there is always water available for nourishment. But just go a short distance from the Nile River and what do you find? You find no vegetation, because it is just dry wilderness.

 

So, where would you rather be planted? In the dry wilderness where you may grow for a time, but eventually wither and die? Or would you rather be planted along the ever-flowing river? Where would you rather be planted?

 

In other words, in whom do you trust? Now, you may be thinking, “Of course, I trust in the Lord!” But how often do you really think, “Well, I can figure it out all by myself, but if all else fails, then I’ll fall back on the Lord.”

 

Would you like to be anyone’s second, third, or fourth choice? How do you think that attitude reflects on your trust in the Lord?

 

You see, God rightly curses those who trust in themselves, and He is right in doing so. We deserve what we get by not trusting in the Lord above all things. We all deserve to be parched, to wither and die, because we do not trust in God, who always promises rest and life.

 

If we are all honest with ourselves, we have all failed to trust in the Lord and have failed to seek Him first. But there is One who has done all things well, who trusted in the Lord with all His heart, soul and mind. This is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. He trusted His heavenly Father with all His life. And in the temptations he faced in the wilderness, Jesus trusted the Word of the Lord to take care of Him and His life. 

Jesus, who knew no sin, would take upon Himself our sin as He was nailed to a tree in the shape of a cross. There, Jesus suffered as He was parched and thirsty. There, Jesus would die for yours and my sin of not trusting in God fully.

 

So, repent of your sin of not trusting in the Lord and trusting in yourself. And believe the good news that your sins of mistrust and lack of trust, and trust in yourself is forgiven and paid for on the cross by Jesus.

 

Upon that cross, Jesus took all our dirty sins of thought, word, and deed, and replaced them with His blessings. He gave us a great exchange! He poured out His life that we may have life in Him, from His body and blood. Then He rose from the dead for our justification, so that we, who cling to Him, would be raised when He returns in His glory! He rose so that the power of sin would be destroyed forever. So that we can proclaim this good news of forgiveness of sins and live our lives as forgiven sinners in Christ. Since Christ has forgiven us, we in turn forgive one another.

 

It is no accident that Scripture so often compares one who trusts in the Lord to a tree. Jesus was nailed to a tree. And upon that tree, His body and blood became the stream of life. For in hearing His Word and receiving His Sacraments, when the heat of this life comes, your leaves will remain green, and you will not cease to bear fruit.

 

Jesus is the source of life, the source of our growth and the source of our produce. Jesus is the nourishment that keeps our faith alive.

 

So, who do you trust? Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord! Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +